14

Dec

Issue Of Torture Of Dalits In Punjab Rocks RS; House Adjourned For The Day

The issue of the incidents of torture on Dalits in Punjab Monday rocked the Rajya Sabha, with the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party raising an uproar, forcing repeated adjournments, the last one for the day.

The Congress and the BSP entered the Well, shouting slogans against the government, demanding dismissal of the Akali Dal-BJP government in the state.

When the House reassembled at 1500 hrs, the Congress and the BSP Members were again on their feet, creating a ruckus on the issue.

Repeated pleas by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to Members to allow discussion on The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015, fell on deaf ears.

When the uproar continued, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, it was adjourned five times- twice during Zero Hour, as many times in Question Hour and thereafter during the post lunch session – due to disruption by the BSP and Congress on the issue.

Assurance by the Centre that it strongly condemned the incident and has asked the state government for strictest action against the culprits failed to pacify the Members as they continued with the uproar, forcing repeated adjournments .